Cord reel for stand lamps



June 28, 1938. c. R. sTocKs 2,121,993

coma REEL FOR STAND LAMPS Filed Aug. 10, 1 957 INVENTOR C. R.;SZO clcsPatented June 2 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT O CE com) REEL FOR STANIYLAM PS Christopher Richard Stocks, Sacramento, Calif, ApplicationAugust 10, 1937, Serial No. 158,340

8 Claims. (01. 242407) This invention relates generally to floor orbridge lamps and in particular is directed to a cord reel adapted foruse in combination with a lamp of such type. I- am aware that cord reels'5 for floor lamps have heretofore been known but such prior deviceshave been, in most instances, complicated instructure and expensive tomanufacture. Further, they did not provide the desired ease ofoperation; that is the cord reel spring was of such type and so mountedthatwhen a substantial length of cord was drawn from the reel, thetorque was excessive.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide a cord reel forfloor lamps which is simple inconstruction, inexpensive to manufacture,and one which operates smoothly and effectively regardless of l theamount of cord withdrawn from the reel. 7

Another object of -my invention is to provide a cord reel assemblyarranged for mounting as a unit in the base portion of a floor lamp, theassembly being easily removable for replacement or repair if necessary.7 These objects Iaccomplish by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

The figure on the drawing is a sectional elevation of my improved cordreel assembly as mounted in connection with the base portion of a floorlamp.

- Referring now moreparticularly to the characters of reference on thedrawing, the numeral l indicates the base of a floor'lamp, such basebeing hollow and provided with an upstanding sleeve 2 in which is seatedthe lower end of the vertical tubular standard 3 of the lamp as isusual.

A relatively large cord reel or drum 4 is disposed horizontally withinthe hollow base I and is formed integral with a vertical spindle 5 whichextends upward through sleeve 2 and into the lower portion of thetubular standard 3. The reel 4 and spindle 5 are preferably made of di-5 electric material such as bakelite. The spindle 5 is hollow andcommunicates at its lower end with a central, downwardly opening cavity6 in the drum. The drum is formed with a relatively deep cord receivinggroove 1 and a passage 8 leads from cavity 6 to the bottom of groove 1.The lower portion of dielectric spindle 5 is provided with a metallicsleeve 9 surrounding the same in fixed connection, the lower end of thissleeve being preferably molded into the upper surface of reel 4 'as at10. The metallic sleeve 9 is threaded at its upper end toreceive anad--' justment nut II which also serves as a thrust bearing as willhereinafter appear. vThe nut ;H is locked to sleeve 9 by means of a'setscrew Ill. The nut II. rests on the upper end of a bushing l3 throughwhich the spindle 5' and sleeve 9 turn distance within standard 3 andsurrounding spin-i- .dle 5.' A collar I8 is fixed in the upper end ofhousing I! and serves as the bearing for the up-" per end of spindle 5.A set screw [9 holds the housing I! in place on bushing 13 while a setscrew 20 maintains collar I8 in place.

A relatively long, helical wound torque spri 2| of small pitch surroundsspindle 5' withinhousing I1, one end of this spring being con-f nectedwith 'nut ll while the other end'is con-' nected with collar [8. Thisspring is madecf relatively light spring'wifre which gives thespring anexceedingly small torque action for each revolution-0f the spindle andreel and which will permit of a substantial number of revolutions of wreel 4, without excessive spring resistancetbeing set up. I l.- Wheninuse, my improved cord'reel assembly is mounted in connection witha'floor lamp in" the manner hereinbefore described and a rela tivelylight and flexible electric cord 0 extends" from the globe sockets ofthe lamp'within skirt" 3 and isthreaded through spindle 5 into cavity 6.From cavity 6 the cord extends through p assage 8 and is then woundabout-the reel groove I a number of times,- the outer or freeen'd' ofthe cord being passed through an opening 0 in one side of the base. Thisopening'maybe provided with a suitable'grommet if desired. Of coursesuch outer or free end of the cord is pro vided with the usual two-prongplug adapted to engage in an electric outlet socket.

When it is desired to connect the lamp cord 0 with an electric outletsocket the necessary; amount of cord is unreeled from reel 4. .When.this occurs spindle 5 rotates andplacesspring 2| undertorque. As thespring 2l is relatively long and of light torque, a considerable amountof the cord may be taken from the reel without increasing the torqueexcessively and the cord leading to the outlet socket will normally beheld under light tension. Also when not in use the cord will run backonto the reel easily and without snapping back. It is necessary with myconstruction that the cord C be quite light and flexible in order thatit may run back onto the reel under the influence of the light torquespring 2|.

If for any reason it is necessary to remove the cord reel assembly fromthe lamp as for repair or replacement, the screws l5 need only beremoved and the entire assembly can then be Withdrawn.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I haveproduced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cord reel assembly for a lamp having a hollow base and a tubularstandard, said assembly comprising a reel adapted to be disposedhorizontally within the hollow base of the lamp, a vertical spindleprojecting upward from the reel and adapted to extend into the tubularlamp standard, means to secure the spindle against longitudinalmovementwithout restricting the rotation thereof, a helical torque springsurrounding the spindle, and means connecting the spring at one end withthe spindle and at the other end with the standard; said last namedmeans comprising a non-turnable bushing mounted within the standard,about the spindle, and a thrust element surrounding the spindle andfixed thereon, said element engaging the upper end of the bushing.

2. A cord reel assembly for a lamp having a hollow'base and a tubularstandard, said assembly comprising a reel adapted to be disposedhorizontally within the hollow base of the lamp, a vertical spindleprojecting upward from the reel and adapted to extend into the tubularlamp standard, a bushing surrounding the lower portion of the spindle,means to secure the bushing within the standard, a thrust element onthespindle and engaging the upper end of the bushing, a bearing collarsurrounding the upper end portion of the spindle, means to secure thecollar in connection with the standard, and a helical torque springsurrounding the spindle between the thrust ele ment and collar, theadjacent ends of the spring being secured to said element and collarrespectively.

3. A device as in claim 2 in which the spindle includes a unitary andsurrounding sleeve extending through and projecting beyond the upper endof l the bushing, the projecting portion of said sleeve being threaded;said thrust element comprising a nut on the threaded portion of thesleeve.

4. A cord reel assembly for a lamp havinga hollow base and a tubularstandard, said assembly comprising a reel adapted to be disposedhorizontally within the hollow base of the lamp, a vertlcal spindleprojecting upward from the reel and adapted to extend into the tubularlamp standard, a bushing surrounding the lower portion of the spindle, aflange extending outwardly from the lower-end of the bushing and adaptedto engage the under surface of the base, mounting screws extendingthrough the flange from beneath, the reel having an opening therein toafford access to said screws, a thrust element on the spindle andengaging the upper end of the bushing, and a helical torque springsurrounding the spindle, said spring being connected at one end with thethrust element and at the other end with the standard.

5. A cord reel assembly for a lamp having a hollow base and a tubularstandard, said assembly comprising a reel adapted to be disposedhorizontally within the hollow base of the lamp, a vertical spindle,projecting upward from the reel and adapted to extend into the tubularlamp standard, a bushing surrounding the lower portion of the spindle,meansv to secure the bushing within the standard, a thrust element onthe spindle and engaging the upper end of the bushing, a bearing collarsurrounding the upper end portion of the spindle, a housing within thetubular standard and surrounding the spindle in clearance relation, saidcollar being mounted within the upper portion of the housing, the lowerportion of the housing being secured in connection with the bushing, anda helical torque spring surrounding the spindle between the thrustelement and collar and secured at adjacent ends thereto.

6. A cord reel assembly for a lamp having a.

hollow base and a tubular standard comprising a cord reel adapted to bedisposed in the base, a tubular spindle upstanding from the reel toproject into the standard and through which the cord passes to the reel,a bushing about and engaging the spindle immediately above the reel, athrust element rigid with the spindle above and riding on top of thebushing, a spring mounted in connection with the spindle and bushing andacting to yieldably resist rotation of the spindle in one direction, andmeans removably mounting the bushing in the base.

'7. A cord reel assembly for a lamp having a hollow base and a tubularstandard comprising a cord reel adapted to be disposed in the base, atubular spindle upstanding from the reel to project into the standardand through which the cord passes to the reel, a bushing about andengaging the spindle immediately above the reel, a thrust element rigidwith the spindle above and riding on top of the bushing, a springmounted in connection with the spindle and bushing and acting toyieldably resist rotation of the spindle in one direction, a flange onthe bushing engaging the under face of the base about the standard, andremovable screws securing the flange against the base.

8. A cord reel assembly for a lamphaving a hollow base and a tubularstandard comprising a cord reel adapted to be disposed in the base, atubular spindle upstanding from the reel to project into the standardand through which the cord passes to the reel, a bushing about andengaging the spindle immediately above the reel, a thrust element rigidwith the spindle above and riding on top of the bushing, a springmounted in connection with the spindle and bushing and acting toyieldably resist rotation of the spindle in one direction, a flange onthe bushing disposed between said base and the reel, and screws securingthe flange against the base and inserted from below; the reel having anopening therethrough to register with the screws one at a time to renderthe same accessible for removal without first removing the reel.

CHRISTOPHER RICHARD STOCKS.

